TEMPE – Solar power might seem futuristic, but thousands of panels supplying electricity from atop at Arizona State University buildings show the technology is ready to help the state add jobs and move toward energy independence, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords said Oct. 5.

“When I’m flying in an airplane, I look down and see all these flat surfaces below me and think one day I’ll look down and be excited to see solar,” Giffords said.

Giffords visited two parking garage rooftops sporting solar panels set up under a 15-year agreement with CarbonFree Technology. The university can purchase electricity, which for now accounts for a fraction of its overall use, at a fixed rate.

In all, CarbonFree Technology has installed about 9,000 solar panels at ASU. Giffords touted the installations as Arizona’s largest solar plant not owned by a utility.

“I think it’s important to talk to supporters and developers of solar projects like these ones at ASU, to understand where the industry has been and better understand how we take projects like these and replicate them around the state and country and build on them,” she said.

Giffords said the ASU project demonstrates the potential of solar energy to boost the economy.

“We could take all of these laid off workers and convert them to power America,” she said.

Giffords, a member of the House of Science and Technology Committee, has authored legislation dubbed the Solar Technology Roadmap Act. The bill, which has won endorsement from a subcommittee, would require the U.S. Department of Energy to appoint a group of experts to create a long-term plan to guide solar energy research and commercial uses.

She said one of the biggest hurdles is the perception that solar energy is expensive, unreliable and only suitable for limited applications.

“A lot of my colleagues and people I talk to about solar energy say it’s not serious energy, but we see with institutions like this that show solar energy can contribute seriously to our state and country,” Giffords said.

Bonny Bentzin, ASU’s director of campus sustainability practices, said being able to install solar panels on structures is an advantage for the university.

“Before the panels were built this was just an average parking garage,” Bentzin said. “Now it’s a place with solar panels and a parking garage.”

Judge won’t delay decision on school funding A judge won't delay deciding whether the state is violating constitutional requirements to adequately fund school capital needs while lawmakers decide what -- if anything -- they are going to do about the problem.February 21, 2018 , 5:59 pm

Social

Check Also

Those heading to Mexico for the holidays can expect longer waits at the border due to stepped up inspections, and federal officials say travelers can make things easier by having legal documents ready and accurately completing customs declarations.